How Recycling Works

Plastics

Plastic is a serious problem because it's very cheap to produce, and it's not biodegradable because of its long, complex molecular chains. When plastic is recycled, it's usually made into a new form. The plastic is sorted into different types and colors, filtered and sifted of contaminants, then chopped and melted into pellets or extruded into fibers. These materials can be used many ways: fleece fabric, durable construction materials, molded furniture or insulation.

Cans

Aluminum cans are a partial success story -- when they're recycled, they save 95 percent of the energy used to make new cans, not to mention the energy usage and pollution caused by the mining and refining of bauxite, the mineral from which aluminum comes [source: Essential Guide]. The United States recycled 51.9 billion cans in 2006. Thanks to incentives such as five-cent deposits, 51.6 percent of all cans are recycled, more than any other beverage container [source: Aluminum.org]. That's why the success is partial -- as impressive as can recycling rates are, we could be doing better. When recycled, cans are chopped up, then heated to remove the paint coating. The pieces melt and mix in a vortex furnace. After being filtered and treated, the molten aluminum is poured into ingots, which are rolled into flat sheets ready to be made into new cans [source: Essential Guide].

Electronics

Recycling electronic goods isn't as common as recycling cans or plastics. It's labor-intensive to separate the many components of electronic equipment, and market prices for electronic scrap aren't high. In fact, it costs consumers and businesses money to recycle electronics, and there's a variety of toxic materials found in them, such as mercury, lead and chemical refrigerants. However, there are companies that specialize in recycling this "e-waste" and can safely dispose of or reuse these materials for a nominal fee.

Other

There are dozens of other materials that can be recycled. Organic waste can be composted and turned into fertilizer. Rubber tires can be shredded, decontaminated and made into insulation or other innovative products. If you're looking for new ways to recycle, simply give a moment's thought when you throw something out. Could it be reused or broken down in a useful way?

Recycling Innovation: Old Tires into Football Fields

The millions of ­automobiles on the road create numerous waste management problems, not the least of comes from the tires. Left in a dump, they can catch fire or break down and leach toxic compounds into soil and groundwater. However, there are several new uses for old tires. Tires are shredded and filtered of non-rubber components. Rubber Bark uses the shredded tires to create landscaping mulch [source: Rubber Bark]. Even more surprising, some companies chop tires into crumbs and create a sort of fake soil used on the artificial turf of football and soccer fields. One field can use between 20,000 and 40,000 scrap tires [source: American Recycler]. The rubber crumbs fill in between the artificial grass blades, providing stability to the surface and giving a softer, more natural feel.